AEGiS-06IAC: A programme of home care for AIDS patients: two years of experience.

6th International AIDS Conference

San Francisco, California, USA — June 20-23, 1990

A programme of home care for AIDS patients: two years of experience.

Int Conf AIDS 1990 Jun 20-23; 6:351 (abstract no. Th.D.902)
Arrizabalaga C, Garde C, Ugalde A, Cia A, Iribarren JA, Arrizabalaga J; Hospital Na Sa de Aranzazu. Servicio Vasco de Salud-Osakidetza. San Sebastian. Spain

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the first programme in Spain of a home care scheme for Aids patients.

METHODS: The programme of home care for Aids patients was set up in February of 1988. It involves a team of one doctor and a nurse who are part of the Infectious Diseases Unit of the hospital. They provide home care to Aids patients who cannot be attended in hospital due to their terminal state.

RESULTS: During these two years the team has attended 26 patients, the majority being drug addicts, and have carried out 265 visits. The team provides medical care, psychological support and sanitary education.

CONCLUSIONS: 1) The psychological support and education of the patient and his or her family is as important as the medical care provided. 2) This work can be carried out by nursing personnel, as long as there is always medical back-up available. 3) Psychological support for the home care team itself is fundamental, due to the stressful nature of the situations which they have to confront. 4) A fundamental aspect of their work is co-ordination with and education of primary care teams.

Keywords: AEGIS, Home Care Services, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Community Health Services, Counseling, Primary Health Care, Spain, Human, nursing, ICA6

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ThD902